Factors controlling the reactivity of divalent metal ions towards pheophytin a.

In this study, we evaluate the factors which determine the reactivity of divalent metal ions in the spontaneous formation of metallochlorophylls, using experimental and computational approaches. Kinetic studies were carried out using pheophytin a in reactions with various divalent metal ions combined with non- or weakly-coordinative counter ions in a series of organic solvents. To obtain detailed insights into the solvent effect, the metalations with the whole set of cations were investigated in three solvents and with Zn2+ in seven solvents. The reactions were monitored using electronic absorption spectroscopy and the stopped-flow technique. DFT calculations were employed to shed light on the role of solvent in activating the metal ions towards porphyrinoids. This experimental and computational analysis gives detailed information regarding how the solvent and the counter ion assist/hinder the metalation reaction as activators/inhibitors. The metalation course is dictated to a large extent by the reaction medium, via either the activation or deactivation of the incoming metal ion. The solvent may affect the metalation in several ways, mainly via H-bonding with pyrrolenine nitrogens and the activation/deactivation of the incoming cation. It also seems to affect the activation enthalpy by causing slight conformational changes in the macrocyclic ligand. These new mechanistic insights contribute to a better understanding of the "metal-counterion-solvent" interplay in the metalation of porphyrinoids. In addition, they are highly relevant to the mechanisms of metalation reactions catalyzed by chelatases and explain the differences between the insertion of Mg2+ and other divalent cations.

Chitosan-based nanocomposites for the repair of bone defects.

Chitosan scaffolds of different deacetylation degrees, average molecular weights and concentrations reinforced with silica nanoparticles were prepared for bone tissue regeneration. The resulting nanocomposites showed similar pore sizes (<300 µm) regardless the deacetylation degree and concentration used in their formulation. Their mechanical compression resistance was increased by a 30% with the addition of silica nanoparticles as nanofillers. The biocompatibility of the three-dimensional chitosan scaffolds was confirmed by the Alamar Blue assay in human primary osteoblasts as well as the formation of cell spheroids indicative of their great potential for bone regeneration. In vivo implantation of the scaffolds in a mice calvaria defect model provided substantial evidences of the suitability of these nanocomposites for bone tissue engineering showing a mature and dense collagenous tissue with small foci of mineralization, vascularized areas and the infiltration of osteoblasts and osteoclasts. Nevertheless, mature bone tissue formation was not observed after eight weeks of implantation.

Spectroscopic and kinetic evidence for redox cycling, catalase and degradation activities of Mn(III)(TPPS) in a basic aqueous peroxide medium.

Mn(III)(TPPS) was found to react rapidly with hydrogen peroxide in basic aqueous solution to form intermediate (TPPS)Mn(V)[double bond, length as m-dash]O and (TPPS)Mn(IV)[double bond, length as m-dash]O species which, in the presence of excess H2O2, are reduced fully back to Mn(III)(TPPS) with clear evidence for redox cycling of Mn(III)(TPPS). The system shows very strong catalase and degradation activities.

Tritolylporphyrin dimer as a new potent hydrophobic sensitizer for photodynamic therapy of melanoma.

We report the synthesis, photochemical and photophysical properties and preliminary studies on biological effect of a new tritolylporphyrin dimer (T-D). Absorption and emission properties of T-D suggest its possible use in photodynamic therapy. T-D is capable of singlet oxygen production with 0.8 quantum yield. It also has a high photostability. The photodynamic properties of the dimer were examined following the growth of SKMEL 188 (human melanoma) cells irradiated with red light (cut off < 630 nm). The surviving fraction of the cells decreased about 3-fold (vs. non-irradiated cells) for an 81 J/cm dose. Our results suggest that tritolylporphyrine dimer T-D may be an interesting hydrophobic sensitizer for photodynamic therapy.

Kinetics and mechanism of the oxidation of glutathione by hexacyanoferrate (III) in aqueous solution.

A detailed kinetic study of the oxidation of glutathione by Fe(CN)6(3)- was performed as a function of pH, temperature, and pressure. The pH profile indicates a maximum pH independent rate in the pH range 5 to 8, which is ascribed to the oxidation of the monoanionic form of glutathione. The activation parameters for the oxidation process in this pH range are characterized by significantly negative delta V# (-22 cm3 mol-1) values. The latter value is in good agreement with that calculated theoretically on the basis of the Marcus-Hush-Stranks relationships, and can be ascribed to a large volume collapse associated with the outer-sphere reduction of Fe(CN)6(3-) to Fe(CN)6(4-).

Mechanistic information on the reaction of cis- and trans-[RuCl2(DMSO)4] with d(T2GGT2) derived from MALDI-TOF and HPLC studies.

Reactions of trans and cis isomers of the Ru(II) complex [RuCl(2)(DMSO)(4)] with single-stranded hexanucleotide d(T(2)GGT(2)) were studied in aqueous solutions in the absence and presence of excess chloride by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). Despite the different reactive species formed from the two isomers in aqueous solution, similar reaction products are obtained in their interaction with d(T(2)GGT(2)). Both [RuCl(2)(DMSO)(4)] isomers bind to the oligonucleotide in the bidentate mode to form thermodynamically stable bis-guanosine adducts, Ru(G-N7)(2). Significant differences were observed in the reaction rates, however the reaction with trans- [RuCl(2)(DMSO)(4)] is ca. 5-10 times faster in comparison to that observed for the cis analogue. This difference is interpreted in terms of different rate-limiting steps for the trans and cis complexes, respectively. It is suggested that the rate of the reaction with the trans isomer is controlled by dissociation of a Cl(-) ligand from the initially formed trans,cis,cis-[RuCl(2)(DMSO)(2)(H(2)O)(2)]. In the contrast, release of a dimethyl sulfoxide molecule from the reactive species cis,fac-[RuCl(2)(DMSO)(3)(H(2)O)] is likely to be rate limiting for the cis analogue. Significant influence of electrostatic interactions on the reaction rate was observed for the trans isomer. Mechanistic interpretation of the observed reactivity trends based on data obtained from UV-Vis spectroscopy, HPLC and MALDI-TOF MS studies is presented and discussed within the paper.

Cyanonitrosylmetallates as potential NO-donors.

The [M(CN)xNOy]n- complexes (where M = Cr(I), Mn(I), Mn(II), Fe(I), Fe(II), Fe(III)) were studied as potential NO-donors using both pharmacological and theoretical semi-empirical methods. Only iron complexes appeared to be pharmacologically active. The quantum chemical calculations indicated that these complexes have the highest predisposition to undergo a nucleophilic attack followed by the NO+ release. The results allowed us to interpret the metabolism of the [M(CN)xNOy]n- complexes in terms of the NO(+)-donation.

Effect of hydrogen peroxide of bacterial origin on apoptosis and necrosis of gut mucosa epithelial cells as a possible pathomechanism of inflammatory bowel disease and cancer.

A series of in vitro experiments was arranged to assess effects of different concentrations of H(2)O(2) contained in bacterial cultures on apoptosis and necrosis of HT-29 line cells representing human gut epithelium. On the basis of cytofluorimetric assays it was possible to demonstrate that supernatant of the Lactobacillus strain producing hydrogen peroxide (L. delbrueckii CU/22) was able to induce both apoptosis and necrosis in human epithelial culture cells HT-29. Both effects were more prominent than those visible under influence of supernatant of the non-H(2)O(2)-producing Lactobacillus strain or chemically pure H(2)O(2) at the same concentration used as a control. In the light of this study and also other reports on damaging effects of hydrogen peroxide and superoxide radicals of bacterial origin on colonic cells, commensal bacteria of the human gut producing H(2)O(2) may be involved in pathomechanisms of IBD by perpetuating the inflammatory reaction and increasing apoptosis and necrosis. There is a promise that probiotic preparations containing Lactobacillus bacteria will be successful as adjunct therapy of IBD and it is, therefore, postulated to make a very careful selection of the Lactobacillus strains as candidates for probiotics indicated to ameliorate the course of IBD, before starting clinical trials.

Kinetic, structural and electrostatic aspects of the reduction of pentacyanoferrate(III) complexes by myoglobin.

The mechanism of the reduction of pentacyanoferrate(III) complexes by oxymyoglobin has been studied by conventional and high-pressure kinetic methods, and also by structural modelling. The results of this and an earlier study show that an outer-sphere mechanism is operating for electron transfer between oxymyoglobin and FeIII(CN)5Ln-, independent of the lability of the ligand L. The electron transfer process is preceded by precursor formation at a specific site on the protein close to the protein heme pocket.

Kinetics and mechanism of the reversible binding of nitric oxide to reduced cobalamin B(12r) (Cob(II)alamin).

The reduced form of aquacobalamin binds nitric oxide very effectively to yield a nitrosyl adduct, Cbl(II)-NO. UV-vis, (1)H-, (31)P-, and (15)N NMR data suggest that the reaction product under physiological conditions is a six-coordinate, "base-on" form of the vitamin with a weakly bound alpha-dimethylbenzimidazole base and a bent nitrosyl coordinated to cobalt at the beta-site of the corrin ring. The nitrosyl adduct can formally be described as Cbl(III)-NO-. The kinetics of the binding and dissociation reactions was investigated by laser flash photolysis and stopped-flow techniques, respectively. The activation parameters, DeltaH, DeltaS, and DeltaV, for the forward and reverse reactions were estimated from the effect of temperature and pressure on the kinetics of these reactions. For the "on" reaction of Cbl(II) with NO, the small positive DeltaS and DeltaV values suggest the operation of a dissociative interchange (I(d)) substitution mechanism at the Co(II) center. Detailed laser flash photolysis and (17)O NMR studies provide evidence for the formation of water-bound intermediates in the laser flash experiments and strongly support the proposed I(d) mechanism. The kinetics of the "off" reaction was studied using an NO-trapping technique. The respective activation parameters are also consistent with a dissociative interchange mechanism.

Mechanistic studies on the reversible binding of nitric oxide to metmyoglobin.

The ferriheme protein metmyoglobin (metMb) in buffer solution at physiological pH 7.4 reversibly binds the biomessenger molecule nitric oxide to yield the nitrosyl adduct (metMb(NO)). The kinetics of the association and dissociation processes were investigated by both laser flash photolysis and stopped-flow kinetics techniques at ambient and high pressure, in three laboratories using several different sources of metMb. The activation parameters DeltaH, DeltaS, and DeltaV were calculated from the kinetic effects of varying temperature and hydrostatic pressure. For the "on" reaction of metMb plus NO, reasonable agreement was found between the various techniques with DeltaH(on), DeltaS(on), and DeltaV(on) determined to have the respective values approximately 65 kJ mol(-1), approximately 60 J mol(-1) K(-1), and approximately 20 cm(3) mol(-1). The large and positive DeltaS and DeltaV values are consistent with the operation of a limiting dissociative ligand substitution mechanism whereby dissociation of the H(2)O occupying the sixth distal coordination site of metMb must precede formation of the Fe-NO bond. While the activation enthalpies of the "off" reaction displayed reasonable agreement between the various techniques (ranging from 68 to 83 kJ mol(-1)), poorer agreement was found for the DeltaS(off) values. For this reason, the kinetics for the "off" reaction were determined more directly via NO trapping experiments, which gave the respective activation parameters DeltaH(off) = 76 kJ mol(-1), DeltaS(off) = approximately 41 J mol(-1) K(-1), and DeltaV(off) = 20 cm(3) mol(-1)), again consistent with a limiting dissociative mechanism. These results are discussed in reference to other investigations of the reactions of NO with both model systems and metalloproteins.